Una Mullally: Oireachtas must act urgently on abortion mandate

There is a difference between complex constitutional issues and issues that don’t belong in the Constitution

Eighty seven per cent at the Citizens’ Assembly voted that Article 40.3.3 should not be retained in full. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

Despite – or perhaps because of – the best efforts of all those involved, from the organisers to the citizen members themselves, what the Citizens’ Assembly showed at the weekend is that abortion has no place in the Irish Constitution, and nor is the Constitution the effective or appropriate place for women’s healthcare to be controlled. The Citizens’ Assembly voted to completely remove the Eighth Amendment and replace it with a statement mandating the Oireachtas to legislate.